Water heater for gas ranges



June 12, 1951 A. R. FRANKLIN WATER HEATER FOR GAS RANGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1947 m m n m E h m k n m 9 R 8 I! a m M a w m 5 8 4 u I Ea w June 1951 v A. R. FRANKLIN ,55 1

' WATER HEATER FOR GAS RANGES 1 Filed Sept. 50, 1947. 1 2 She et's -SheeEZ Fig.3.

By ad/Em Inventor Albert "R. Fra k/i Patented June 12, 1951 Albert R. Franklin, San Antonio, 'Tex., assignor of one-half to Johnnie R. Franklin, San Antonio, Tex.

Application September 30, 1947, Serial No. 776,943

3 Claims. 1

This invention appertains to novel and useful improvements in a combination device for both cooking and heating and maintaining a supply of heated water.

An object of this invention is to heat a supply of water, retain the heated supply at a selected temperature, automatically increase the temperature of the supply of water when necessary to maintain a constant predetermined temperature, to maintain the ignition means in an operative manner and to supply means for conventionally heating pot and pans and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved storage means for retaining water or other liquid therein, having fire Walls extending therefrom for the purpose of receiving a burner therebetween.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide improved vent means associated with said burner means, said vent meansbeing provided in a housing, wherein the, above-mentioned apparatus is maintained.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide fluid flow control means associated with a pilot light, said fluid fiow control means being actuated upon thermal response of the lighted pilot valve.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a combination gas range accompanied by a water heater, all provided in one compact unit which may be positioned conventionally in a kitchen or the-like.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the invention disclosed in Figure 3 and taken on the line 22 thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the invention shown in Figure .2 and taken substantiah ly on the line 3-3 thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tank or receptacle including combinationsuppor-t members and "fire walls; and,

Figure 5 isa plan view of a burner utilized in conjunction with the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated preferred embodiment of the present-invention, like reference charactersiare used throughout to ind-icatesimil'ar elements. I I

This invention has been conceived and developed to provide a combination gas range and water heater, whereby space and expense may be saved by utility thereof. A substantially conventional gas range including all the pertinent features of the said conventional gas range is modified by the addition of a receptacle or tank for receiving and retaining a supply of water therein. Also associated with this receptacle or tank is means for retaining the water therein at a predetermined temperature. This means consists primarily of a particularly meritorious arrangement of valves, conduits, and thermostats.

The housing forming a major portion of the conventional gas range is modified to an extent so as to accommodate the water heater and retaining means; A selected compartment receives the receptacle therein and also receives the means for heating and automaticallyconditioning water in order that it may be maintained at a predetermined temperature. Vents are provided in this housing for the obvious purpose of supplying a flow of air in the required positions, adjacent the heating element or burner.

Forming a major portion of the present invention is the particularly meritorious receptacle or tank whereinwater is stored. It'will be noted as a pair of tanks juxtapositioned and intercommunicated. Extending from the lower portion of a selected tank is a pair of fire walls which serve the purpose of supporting the said receptacle or tank. Immediately between these fire walls there is supplied a conventional burner for the obvious purpose of heating the liquid contained in the said tank. Of course, the area between the fire Walls is intercommunicated with the zone which communicates with the vents mentioned above.

All of the appurtenances contiguous to a gas range (or if desired an electrically actuated range) are supplied in conjunction with the present invention. The usual burners are provided on the inside of the said housing and communicate with grates on the cover of the housing. Obviously, this construction permits cooking, heating and the like. Conventional broiler area as well as oven area is provided along with the conventional storage space or compartment in the said housing.

With the above as a background, reference is made primarily to Figures 1 and 2, wherein there is disclosed a housing It, substantially conventional in nature. The said housing may be made of any suitable material such as porcelain covered metal or the like. A storage compartment f2 is provided in the said housing adjacent a broiler and form fire walls, whose function will be tic-- scribed later.

It will be noted that apertures 28 and 33 are supplied in the tanks or cylinders 20 and 22 respectively. The aperture 28 has a conduit 32 communicating therewith for the purpose of conducting heated liquid from the said tank.

Going to Figure 2, it will be noted that a conduit 34 extends through the housing l9 and protrudes in the said cylinder 22. t will be also noted that insulating walls 3% surround the said tank means for the obvious purpose of preventing undesired heat flow influence by radiation and convection.

Means for maintaining the liquid in the said tank at a predetermined temperature is provided. This means consists primarily of a conduit 33 which leads from a suitable supply of gas, either I natural or butane or any other conventional admixture utilized for heating purposes. Provided in the conduit 38 is a valve it which is conventional in nature. This valve may be of any suitable type well-known in many arts. A thermocouple 42 extends from the said valve 46 and terminates between the said fire walls 212 and 25 respectively. Also extending from the said valve 40 is another manually operated needle valve M which has a conduit or pipe '56 extending therefrom. This pipe 58 terminates in a pilot light nozzle 48 also between the said fire walls 24 and 25 respectively. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 2 that the said thermo-couple 42 terminates adjacent the pilot light nozzle 58. The function of the said thermo-couple is to regulate the thermostatic valve iii. It is quite obvious that when a predetermined low temperature is attained in the thermo-couple 12, the thermostatic valve ifi is permitted to remain open thereby allowing gas or the like to flow to the burner 56. The valve til does not control the flow of fluid into the conduit it, therefore, the pilot light will remain in the ignited condition regardless of whether the valve til is open or closed.

Of course, when the pilot light means is to be closed permanently, the manually operable valve 44 may easily be actuated to a selected position.

Also interposed in the line or conduit 38 is another thermostatic valve Ell having a rod (of the expansion type) 52 extending within the lower cylinder 22. At a predetermined temperature of liquid Within the said tank, the rod 52 will contract thereby permitting gas to flow through the thermostatic valve 53. When he liquid within the tank reaches the maximum temperature (desired temperature), the rod 52 will expand to such a position as to close the said thermostatic valve 50.

The conduit 38 continues through a manually operable valve E l, thence to a detachable burner 56. The attachment of the burner to the said conduit 38 at this point is purely conventional, commonly known in the burner art.

The said burner extends between the fire walls 24 and 26 respectively and is in close proximity to 4 the pilot nozzle 48 and terminal portion of the thermo-couple 42.

A zone or area immediately behind the receptacle or tank is provided for the purpose of conducting flue gasses from between the said fire walls. A vent may be provided in the floor of the said zone and a chimney 58 may be provided on the upper portion of the said housing. It is noted at this point that the said conduit or pipe 34 may have an economizer therein, interposed within the chimney or flue zone. This economizer may be conventional in nature such as a simple coil of pipe or the like. However, the heat extracted from the flue gasses which would normally be exhausted through the atmosphere may be utilized and put to advantage thereby increasing the efliciency of the apparatus. A partition 60 is provided in the upper portion of the said compartment l8 thereby defining another zone wherein a burner 62 resides. A plurality of apertures 64 are provided in the cover of the said receptacle l0 and grates 66 may be positioned therein. Obviously, these apertures communicate with the zone immediately above the said partition 60 thereby lending access to the heat generated by burning the said burner 62.

A second set of apertures 68 and 7E] respectively may be provided at the opposite end of the said housing I 0 for the same purpose as the apertures 64. Of course, grates may also be placed over these last mentioned apertures 68 and TF2 respectively. It is also within the purview of the present invention to supply another burner 62 beneath these apertures 58 and H3. Inspecting Figure 2, it will be noted that there are two apertures provided in the upper portion of the housing ii! constituting distinct and separate burning means. It will also be noted that only two other apertures constituting burning means are supplied adjacent but spaced from these apertures 64 and 66. Now, it is within the purview of the present invention to supply any number of burners in the housing. This is considered but a matter of design within the prerogative of the manufacturer.

wool, asbestos and the like.

It will be further noted that a sheet of insulation 12 may be supplied between the compartments M, 15 and compartment 18. This insulation may be of conventional material such as rock Also, suitable, conventional controls 74 may be supplied for regulating the flame in the burners 62.

While there has been described and illustrated but a single preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that various changes including omissions and additions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following iclaims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

= side walls secured against the outer periphery of the lowermost cylinder and constituting the sole support means for the tank said side walls being disposed longitudinally of said cylinders and extending throughout the length of said cylinders.

2. In a heating appliance, a water tank come posed of two intersecting cylinders of equal diameters, permanently fixed together with their axes horizontal and parallel and in a vertical plane, the two cylinders communicating through the plane of intersection, means attached to one end of the lower cylinder for admitting fluid to the lower cylinder, means attached to the end of the uppermost cylinder remote from the first means for delivering fluid from the upper cylinder, and a pair of spaced parallel fire walls secured directly to the lower cylinder and constituting the sole means for supporting the tank in an elevated position, said fire walls being disposed longitudinally of said cylinders and extending throughout the length of the cylinders.

3. Ina heating appliance, a water tank composed of two intersecting cylinders of equal diameters, permanently fixed together with their axes horizontal and parallel and in a vertical plane, the two cylinders communicating solely through the plane of intersection, insulating walls surrounding the cylinders, said cylinders each having a forward end wall and a rear end wall, means attached to the rear end wall of the lower cylinder for admitting fluid to the lower cylinder, means attached to the forward end Wall of the upper cylinder for delivering fluid from the upper cylinder, and a pair of spaced parallel fire walls depending from the lower cylinder and extending throughout the length of the lower cylinder, said The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 367,997 Olmstead Aug. 9, 1887 405,305 Dull June 18, 1889 472,842 Adams Apr. 12, 1892 1,769,590 Mauck July 1, 1930 1,974,001 Vallero Sept, 18, 1934 2,219,517 Dufault Oct. 29, 1940 2,232,013 Rutherford Feb. 18, 1941 2,290,049 Hildebrecht July 14, 1942 2,303,702 Mantz Dec. 1, 1942 2,370,145 Carter Feb. 27, 1945 2,402,011 Beebe June 11, 1946 2,404,860 Miller July 30, 1946 2,414,220 Alfery Jan. 14, 1947 2,478,569 Cooper Aug. 9, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 15,222 Denmark Nov. 17, 1911 23,672 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1901 316,725 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1929 

